Fur stretcher



Dec. 27, 1932. O L NELSON 1,892,624

FUR STRETCHER Filed May 31, 1950 INVENTOR frdS ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 27, 1932 PATENT OFFICE OSCAR I. NELSON, OF PRENTICE, WISCONSIN FUR STRETCHER Application filed May 31,

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in fur stretchers and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of'this character which will be highly efficient in use and economical in manufacture.

The salient object of my invention is the provision of a construction of the character described herein which will provide an adjustable tensioning and drying device for furs of various sizes and shapes.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a construction of the character described herein which will provide for uniform drying of the skin by applying uni form tension on all parts of the skin.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved device of the character described herein which will eliminate slipping and tearing of the skin during the stretching and drying operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafteix' The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, showing the preferred form of construction and in which: 7

39 Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the construction shown in F ig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view substantially on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing wherein a preferred construction of the invention is illustrated, 10 indicates an expansible frame of suitable resilient material which includes a nose portion 13 and side portions or rails 11 and 12 which radiate therefrom. The side portions 11 and 12 are arcuated from the nose 13 to a point adjacent the middle extent of the frame and then extend substantially parallel to the rear of the frame where they are bent rightangularly inward to provide the arms 14 and 15. The end portion of the arm 14 terminates in a coil 16 which is wound around the arm 15 and in a similar manner the end portion of the arm 15 terminates 1930. Serial No. 458,621).

in a coil 17 which is wound around the arm 14, and in this manner these arms 14 and 15 have sliding or telescoping engagement with each other, permitting the side portions 11 and 12 to be spread in a manner to be described presently.

Connected to'the side portion 11 in any approved manner, such as by welding, are brackets 18 and 19 which have suitable openings 20 formed therein, and pivotally mounted on these brackets by means of suitable connecting elements such as rivets 21 are spreader arms 22 and 23, respectively. In alignment with the brackets 18 and 19, re-

spectively, and similarly mounted on the side w portion 12, are brackets 24 and 25 which have suitable openings 26 formed therein, and pivotally connected to these brackets by means of suitable connecting elements such as rivets 27 are spreader arms 28 and 29, m respectively. Formed at spaced intervals in the end portions of arm 22 is a plurality of openings 30 and similarly formed in the arm 23 is a plurality of openings 31. Provided in the arm 28 is a plurality of spaced openings H 32 and similarly formed in the arm 29 is a plurality of openings 33. Extending between the side portions 11 and 12 is a bar 34 which projects between the arms 22 and 28 and is pivotally connected thereto by means 86 of a suitable connecting element such as screw 35 whichincludes a threaded end portion on which the threaded nut 36 is mounted. It willbe seen from Fig. 1 that a plurality of openings 37 is provided in. the bar 34 adjacent the forward end portion thereof and that the screw 35 is adapted to be inserted through any of these openings and through corresponding openings 30 and 32 in arms 22 and 28, for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The bar 34 likewise is disposed between the arms 23 and 29 and is pivotally connected thereto by means of a suitable connecting element such as screw 39 which is adapted to project through corresponding openings 31 and 33 in the arms 23 and 29 and through one of the openings 38 provided in the bar 34. The screw 39 includes a threaded end portion and a suitable threaded nut 40 is mounted thereon.

The body portion of the bar 34 is preferably twisted as indicated at 41 so that a portion 42 thereof extends in a plane at rightangles to the plane in which the main extent of the bar is disposed, and this portion 42 projects rearwardly over the arms 14 and 15 and terminates in a hooked portion providing a handle 43. Notchcs are formed in the lower edge of the portion 43 of the bar 34 providing teeth 45, and it will be seen that the bar 34, being pivotally mounted on the spreader arms 22 and 23, and 23 and 29, may be moved longitudinally by means of the handle 43 to spread the side portions 11 and 12 of theframe 16 to any suitable width and it is apparent that when the bar 34 is retracted to spread the side portions 11 and 12 the arm 14 will have sliding action through coil 17 while the coil 16 of arm 14 exercises a sleeve-like action on arm 15. In a similar manner arm 15 will be slidable through coil 16, and the coil 17 of arm 15 will exercise a sleeve-like sliding action on arm 14. hen the frame is spread to the desired degree and the proper width and tension secured, the teeth 45 provided in the portion 42 of bar 34 engage the arms 14 and 15 and in this manner the frame is secured in position and prevented from slipping.

Slidably mounted on the side portions 11 of the frame 10 and projecting over the bar 34 is a supporting arm 46 which carries clips 47, and similarly mounted on the side portion 12 of the frame is a supporting arm 49 which projects under the bar 34 and which carries a similar number of clips 47. The arm 46 includes a coiled end portion 50 which is disposed around the side portion 11 and an angularly formed end potrion 51 is provided at the end opposite the coil 50. Similarly formed in the arm 49 is a coil 52 which is disposed around the side portion 12 and this arm 49 likewise includes an angularly formed end portion 53.

As best illustrated in Fig. 3, the clips 47 include an arcuated leaf 54 which has hinged connection to a hinge structure 55 and integral with the leaf 54 is a base portion 56. The leaf 54 includes a concavely depressed portion 57 forwardly of a curved portion 58 which provides a slot for mounting the clips on the arms 46 and 49. Having hinged connection with the hinge structure is a movable tongue 59.

In the use of my invention the fur is drawn up over the side portions 11 and 12 and the upper side of the skin is disposed between the clips 47 on arm 46, while the hind legs of the skin are disposed in the clips on arm 49. It will be manifest, therefore, that the arms 46 and 47, being slidable on the frame, may be moved to be adapted to skins of various lengths and it will likewise be seen that the screws 35 and 39 maybe inserted in any of the corresponding pairs of openings in arms 22 and 28, and likewise any of the corresponding openings in arms 23 and 29 so that the side port-ions 11 and 12 may be spread and the frame adapted to furs of various widths.

The arms 46 and 49 are retained in position on the frame 10, when the skin is disposed thereon and secured in clips 47, by means of the frictional engagement of the coils 50 and 52 against the side portions 11 and 12 when the latter are spread by means of bar 34 as explained above, while the fur is further prevented against slipping and tearing by means of the tongues 59 in clips 47 which have frictional engagement with the skin. It will be seen that when the skin is disposed in the clips 47, in the manner described above, and the frame spread to the desired extent, depending upon the width of the skin, the tongues 59 prevent the skin from slipping, since the tongues 59 being in frictional engagement with the stretched skin pressure is exerted against the tongues and they are moved downwardly into the closed position shown in Fig. 3 and in this manner the release of the skin is prevented.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be seen that I have provided an adjustable tensioning and drying device which is readily adaptable to furs of various sizes and shapes and which will effectively tension the skin and provide for uniform drying. and which will likewise prevent tearing and abrasion of the skin. while effectively serving its other objects and being economical in manufacture.

\Vhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore. do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A fur stretching and drying device comprising an expansible frame including side rails spaced at one end. telescoping arms carried by sa d rails at said end, and means for expanding said frame and holding the same in various expanded positions including pivotal. spreader arms carried by said rails, a movable bar adjustably associated with said spreader arms and provided with notches for engagement with said telescoping arms, and means for gripping a skin stretched on said device including arms slidable upon said rails and clips carried by said last mentioned arms.

2. A device of the character described comprising an expansible frame including side rails, means for expanding and contracting the frame, members slidable on said rails,

OSCAR L. NELSON. 

